The Minnesota Vikings were already in a bad position without Percy Harvin. Then Adrian Peterson missed the bus.
Sunday started on a bad note only got worse when the Vikings couldn't catch the ball in a 28-10 loss to the Chicago Bears. The Vikings had at least six drops, including three from Jerome Simpson.
"The number of dropped passes we had (Sunday) is really unacceptable in our league," coach Leslie Frazier told 1500 ESPN Twin Cities. "It's hard to continue drives when you don't catch the football. ... I can't recall us having that many drops in a ballgame at so many different position. We're going to go back and look at some things fundamentally we'll work on this week.
"But it's hard to put together some drives when you're killing yourself with drops."
The Vikings are not a playoff contender without Harvin. He was in the midst of his best professional season before going down with an ankle injury in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 4.
Together, Harvin and Peterson gave the Vikings' offense life and took pressure off quarterback Christian Ponder. Now it's Peterson or bust.
The Vikings were 5-3 before Harvin's injury. Including that game, they're 1-2 since. Peterson dominated the Detroit Lions for 171 rushing yards in the lone win.
Bottom line: The Vikings will not make the playoffs if Harvin doesn't return soon.
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.
